“As for democracy, the men of sense among us knew what it was, and I perhaps as well as any, as I have more cause to complain of it; but there is nothing new to be said of a patent absurdity-meanwhile we did not think it safe to alter it under the pressure of your hostility.” ThinkingMenWellsSaidCausesDemocracyHe ManSafePressureComplainingAbsurdityHostilityPatentsNothing New Book:The Landmark Thucydides Source: The Landmark Thucydides
“Everybody has the right to speak up in a democracy. We would be in trouble as a society if there wasn't a constant pressure to make reforms and to be just. Sometimes as prime minister, when i was caught up in a really loud demonstration, I used to say to myself that I deserved it because of all the demonstrations I myself had organized as a student against Duplessis.” IfsSometimesWould BeUsedSpeakDemocracyTroubleStudentsPressureConstantCaughtReformLoudMinistersOrganizedPrimeCaught UpPrime MinisterDemonstration Author:Jean Chretien
“Self-censorship as a result of intimidation or social pressures, sometimes referred to as "political correctness", constitutes a serious obstacle to the proper functioning of democracy. It is important to hear the views of all persons,including the "silent majority", and to give heed to the weaker voices.” GivingPersonsImportantSelfSometimesPoliticalSocialVoiceResultsViewsDemocracySeriousPressureMajoritySilentIncludingObstaclesCensorshipPolitical CorrectnessHeedCorrectnessIntimidationSocial PressureSelf CensorshipSilent Majority Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“But the question is, do we care enough? Do we care enough to keep standing up for the country that we know is possible, even if it's hard, and even if it's politically uncomfortable? Do we care enough to sustain the passion and the pressure to make our communities safer and our country safer? Do we care enough to do everything we can to spare other families the pain that is felt here today?” IfsKnowsCountryHardEnoughRealityCareTodayPainPassionPoliticsFeltCommunityLeadershipJusticeDemocracyViolenceHuman NaturePolicyEthicsStandingPressureHuman RightsOur CountryIdeologyUncomfortableSparesCivilityDisobedienceOur CommunityCivil Disobedience Author:Barack Obama
“This democracy... The elections in Iraq were held despite the American opposition. It was the will of the Iraqi people and the religious authorities. [The elections] were the result of pressure by Ayatollah Sistani, by the Iraqi religious authorities, and by the fighting forces in Iraq on America. They left the US no choice but to allow the elections.” PeopleAmericaChoicesFightingLeftForceReligiousResultsDemocracyAuthorityPressureElectionIraqDespiteOpposition Author:Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
“The role of campaign contributions in our political system and the role of lobbyists have now reached levels that are quite unhealthy for the operations of our democracy. But the antidote, as in past eras of lobbyist excess, is for more involvement by citizens to build pressure on members of the House and Senate to serve the public interest.” PastPoliticalHouseInterestLevelsRolesDemocracyCitizensMembersPressureCampaignsErasOperationsContributionExcessSenateInvolvementAntidoteUnhealthyPolitical SystemsPublic InterestLobbyistsCampaign Contributions Author:Al Gore
“As the histories of ancient and modern democracies illustrate, the pressure of political movement in times of war, civil commotion, or general anxiety pushes in the direction of authority, not away from it.” WarPoliticalDemocracyModernMovementAuthorityAnxietyPressureAncientPolitical Movements Author:Robert Heilbroner